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$500 Fine Dropped for Woman Who Brought Apple Through Customs

June 07, 2018
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2 min read
Close-Up Of Hand Holding Apple
$500 Fine Dropped for Woman Who Brought Apple Through Customs
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The $500 fine levied on a woman who brought an apple through US Customs and Border Protection after deplaning from an international flight in April has been dropped.

Crystal Tadlock was offered an apple as a snack on board her US-bound Delta flight from Paris (CDG) on April 22. Tadlock had placed the apple in her purse and failed to throw it out before going through the airport customs checkpoint. A US Customs agent discovered the apple in Tadlock's bag, charged her $500 and revoked her Global Entry status.

Undeclared agricultural products are not allowed to be brought into the United States.

US CBP dropped the fine and reinstated Tadlock's Global Entry status after her representative from Congress became involved.

"It didn’t sound right," US Representative Ed Perlmutter of Colorado told Fox 31 Denver of the fee. "It sounded excessive. I found myself kind of offended that there would be a $500 fine for an apple wrapped in plastic from Delta," he said, noting he agrees with the laws against bringing in produce from other countries, but that this case was different because the apple was given to her by an airline.

So, Perlmutter decided to meet with US CBP and the US Department of Agriculture.

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"When cooler heads prevailed, and when they thought about it for a second, they did the right thing," Perlmutter said. "Now the next step is to take a look at can they add some discretion so the agency isn’t having to issue a fine like this when it doesn’t make any sense and is there something the airline can do before you get off the plane to remind you."

So, if you find yourself in a similar situation, it could be a good idea to write a letter to your congressional representative about it. To avoid a similar fine, read this guide on what food items can go through US Customs.

Featured image by Getty Images/EyeEm

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  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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